Mechanical pencil



July 18, 1939. F. P. COOPER 2,166,751

' MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed Nov. 26, 19:57 2 Sheets-Shed 1 iv? Q a i l S 12' 9 IS l7 as S 40 55 7 WITNESSES lNVENT OR @"I A/ Frank? Cooper July 18, 1939. COOPER 2,166,751

MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed Nov. 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tic- 7.

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a i 24 ii i 12' E] T ITNESSES INVENTOR 40 Frank P. Cooper BY ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1939 PATENT orriciz 2,186,751 MECHANICAL PENCIL Frank P. Cooper, Clifton, Ohio Application November 28, 1937, SerialNo. 176,592

This invention relates to mechanical pencils and has for an object to provide an improved construction which is comparatively simple and which will always function to feed a lead outwardly and retract lead inwardly a desired distance as long as the supply of leads lasts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical lead pencil wherein a magazine is adapted to feed new leads to a suitable leadholding-and-ejecting structure from time to time as the respective leads are used.

Another object of the invention is to provide'a' mechanical lead pencil wherein substantially all of the moving parts are arranged in the ferrule of the pencil.

An additional and more specific object of the invention is to' provide a-mechanical lead pencil wherein gripping means are actuated by the g rotating barrel in such a waythat the gripping; means are caused to grip and'then .movefor-r;

wardly a lead as the same is needed.

In the accompanying drawings-' Figure 1 is a" longitudinal vertical. sectional view through amechanicallead pencil disclosing an embodiment of the invention;

"We 2 is a sectional view through Figure 1 approximately on the'lin'e 2-2; Y

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through Figure 1 on the line .3 '3

Figure 4 is a'transvers'e'sectionai view through Figure 1 approximately on the line 4-4;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through Figure 1 approximately on the line 5-5;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view throug Figure 1 approximately on the line 6Ii;v

Figure '7 is aview similar to Figure 1 but showing most of the mechanism in elevation;

Figure 8 is a sectional view through-Figure 7 approximately on the line H;

Figure 9 is apersp'ective view of a hollow piston disclosing certain features of the invention;

Figure 10 is a'perspective view of a gripper embodying certain features of the invention; Figure 11 is a side view partly broken away of the structure shown in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a side view of a casing member embodying certain featuresof the invention;

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 12; andv Figure 14 is a perspective view of an anchor disclosing certain features of the'invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numeral, I indicates a hollow=barrel formed of any d ed material, as, for -instance, metal, wood. B elite", or other suitable composition.

This barrel at the upper end is provided with a restricted portion 2 for receiving a cap 3. It willbe understood that the upper end may be formed in various ways and may be provided with a rubber eraser without departing from the spirit 5 of the invention. The lower end of the barrel is provided with an annular groove 4 and. lugs 5 which may be integral with the barrel or rigidly secured thereto in any desired manner. The exterior surface of the lower end of the barrel 1 tapers at 8 so as to line up with the taper of a cone-shaped ferrule I. This ferrule has a cylindrical part 8 fitting into the lower end of the barrel I so that an exterior bead 9 may fit into i the groove 4 in order to rotatably secure the 15 ferrule to the barrel. The cylindrical part II is preferably formed with one or more notches III so that the upper end may be sprung inwardly in order that the bead 9 may be slipped into position held therein by the resiliency of the material, which may be metal, rubber, or the like.

From the description of the ferrule I and barrel I it will be seen that these members are rotatable in respect to each other, and ordinarily when a lead is adjusted the ferrule I is held stationary and the barrel I rotated though the reverse action could take place without changing the construction. The hollow part or chamber I I is adapted to receive one or more extra leads l2 while the lead I! is in use. In order to separate the leads in the chamber II from the interior of the ferrule I and to cause the proper feeding action from the chamber II to the interior of the ferrule 1, there is provided a disk l3 of metal, rubber, or other suitable material. This disk is provided with notches I4 adapted to receive the lugs I. These parts fit rather snugly so that in eflect the barrel I, disk I3, and associated parts function as a single integral member.

It will also be noted that the disk I: is provided with an integral depending tubular extension I 5 adapted to receive a cam l6 as hereinafter more fully described. The disk I3 is provided with an aperture in alignment with the bore of the tubular extension I 5 so that the guide tube I! may extend through the disk I3 so as to present a guide for the lead I2. A scoop I8 is preferably integral with the tube I1, and is provided with a coiled portion formed with a. curved arm I9 and an arch-shaped center portion" whereby the leads I 2 are guided into the arc-shaped center portion 20 and then allowed to slide by gravity into the tube I'I. When this is done the pencil is held at an angle of approximately 45 to the horizontal and the ferrule held stationary while I alignment.

the barrel is rotated, or a reverse action could take place. If there are a large number of leads I! in the chamber ll, only one lead can enter, as clearly indicated in Figure 1. When this lead has been used and a new one is desired, the entire slit or notched at 2B and 20, whereby the lower end may be constricted by the parts being sprung toward each other, and provide friction whereby the lead i! can not fall out of the pencil. However, the laws 2i and 22 may force the lead downwardly and overcome the friction produced by the gripping lower end of the guiding tube N. This tube is provided wth notches 21 and 28 so as to permit the Jaws 2| and 22 to move into the tube, grip the lead therein, and move the same downwardly a certain distance. The tube 24 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to a connecting member which may be called an anchor 20. This anchor is shown more in detail in Hgure 14, from which it will be observed that there is provided a pair of upstanding arc-shaped side members 8|, abutments or stops II, and anchoring projectons 3!. These projections extend through suitable apertures in the ferrule I, as shown in Figure 1, whereby the anchor II and all parts connected therewith will function as if they were integral and therefore will rotate with the ferrule. Proml'lguresland'litwillbeseenthat the members ll act to support the sleeve 23 though ordinarily the sleeve is held properly in place by friction.

The gripping laws are preferably two in num-. her and formed as shown particularly in Figures 10 and 11. From these figuresit will be seen that each Jaw is provided with a gripping surface 33 formed on the lower end of the gripper lever 84, which is ofi'set at u and at the upper end is formed preferably with an integral bearing shaft 88 and armsflandll. Thebearngshaftllof the respective grippers are rotatably mounted in the openings or apertures ll of the casing ll. Thiscasing,asshownin!igures 12and 13,is provided with a lower guiding body II which is provided with a pair of resilient tongues 41 adapted to press against the guiding tube 24 and thereby prevent pny independent up-and-down motion ofthe casing. When boththe grippersare arrangedinpositionasshowninl'igureltherespectve arms 31 and ll will extend through open--' ings 48 and 44 of a tubular member which for purposes of identification may be called a hollow piston ll, arm 31 of the right-hand gripper functioning in opening 44 and arm II of the left-hand gripper functioning in opening II. Thishollow piston is provided with a notch or opening. I!

, (figs. 5 and 9) on diametrically opposte sides so as to presentrespectively abutments l1 and 48 adapted to strike the abutments or stops ll. The hollow piston II extends over the upper part of the casing ll and is provided with a circular reduced upper end II which is slidingly fitted over the cam Ii, which cam is rigidly secured tothe depending member or sleeve II which is held stationary in respect to the barrel l. The upper end is is provided with apertures n and s2 (Figs. 4 and 9) adapted to receive the journal ends II and 54 of an arc-shaped bar II. .The journal ends or members not only extend through the apertures BI and 52 but extend into the respective cam grooves 56 of cam IO.

It will be noted from Figure 9 that each of the openings 43 and 44 s provided with an enlarged end 51 and reduced end it This structure is presented in order to provide freedom of movement to the arm in the enlarged end while the push and pull isbeing applied to the arm n the reduced end, so that the jaws II and 22 may be swung into engagement with the lead I! or out of engagement therewith.

In operation it is intended that the barrel be revolved and the ferrule be held stationary, which procedureperforms two acts: When the barrel is rotated from right to left or clockwise (as viewed from the upper end) lead is guided into the lead-feeding tube and then propelled outvolved in the opposite direction to accomplish each of the above results and the selective mechanism within the barrel would be inoperative.

Referring to Figure 10, arms 31 are used for propelling lead outward and arms II are used for retracting or drawing lead backward into the pencil. These arms. are plainly shown in Figure 5. Whichever arms are functioning, that is both Ijs or both 31's are within the narrow part of openings ll and- 44 in the piston. The piston has four openings besides the two longitudinal slots. The narrow parts of the openings 43 and 44 in each half of the piston, that is, each half as separated by the two longitudinal slots, face each other with the wider portion facing the longitudinal slots, which construction is such that if the piston is revolved slightly from right to left, arms 31 are within the narrow section and arms ii are within the wider section and when revolved from left to right arms 38 are within the narrow section and arms 31 are within the wider section- The wider sections of the openings serve two purposes; first, they allow arms within them to swing freely when the push or pull is applied to the arms within the narrow section in propelling the lead outwardly or retracting the lead inwardly, and, second, they prevent gripping arms from swinging in too wide an are on the inward swing of the grippers when there is no lead in the lead-guiding tube, thus preventing gripping arms 34 from pressing on sidesof lead-guiding tube. The longitudinal slots have each two faces or abutments, that is, there are two 's and two 41's so that when piston revolved slightly in one direction one set of faces or abutments come in contact with one side of lugs 3| and when revolved in the opposite direction the opposite face of abutments 41 and Cl come in contact with the opposite side of lugs ll. This slight rotary movement of the piston in respect to ferrule I in either direction is for the purpose of engaging.

the proper set of arms of the grippers for propelling the lead outward or for retracting or'pulling the lead back within the pencil, the rotary motion of the piston being governed asto direction by the direction of rotation of the barrel imarea-n1 3 are the ones to which the longitudinal movements of the piston are applied.

When the rotary motion of the piston in respect to ferrule I is stopped by abutments ll 5 or 48 against lugs 3|, continued rotary motion of the barrel causes the piston to move back and forth longitudinally. The longitudinal movement of the piston is imparted to the arm of the grippers in the narrow portion of the openings of'th'e 1 piston.

' If the longitudinal movement is applied'as a push orpull to arms 31, the push swings grippers in against the leadand pushes lead outwardly and the pull swings grippers outwardly 15 away from lead and pulls grippers up to the-highest point where the actionis again repeated and continues to be repeated as long as barrel is rotated from rightto left. When arms 38 are within the narrorseetion of openings in piston the push or pull applied to these arms through barrel being revolved from left to right, results in the opposite action to these arms, that is, a

push on these arms swings grippers outwardly away from lead and downwardly tothe lowest 5, point of their longitudinal travel and the pull swings grippers inward against lead'and upward to the highest point when the action is again repeated, and continues,.=to be repeated as long as barrel is rotated in the same direction.

a a The resilient tongues 42 of casing 4. bearing on lead-guiding tube 24' not only prevent any independent upward and downward motion of the casing, but the degree of resistance offered determines the tightness of the grip of the grippers 3 upon the lead. This casing carrying the grippers is moved longitudinally back and forth by the push and pull applied to the arms 31 or the arms 38.

During the first part of the movement of the Q barrel the arms 31 and 38 will change their respective positions in the respective openings 33 and SI and thereby cause the jaws II and 22 to grip the lead II. The continued rotation of the barrel in the same direction will cause the journal 5 members 83 and 54 to act on certain of the cam grooves 56 and move the parts downwardly or towardthe outlet opening of the ferrule. The downward or longitudinal movement of the parts takes place while jaws 2| and 22 are gripping the a lead. This will cause the lead to protrude beyond the outlet opening of the ferrule. This action may be repeated from time to time as additional parts of the lead are to be exposed for use.

when the lead has been used until the jaws 55 II and 22 can not grip the same with the jaws in the upper position, a new lead is guided into the tube 24 and the jaws will grip the lower part of this new lead and move the same downwardly as just described so that the unused part of the 60 previous lead wfll be pushed outwardly a short distance. In this way practically all the lead in each stick of lead may be completely used.

In, feeding a lead forwardly or outwardly if the .ferrule 1 is continually rotated in one direction 55 instead of part of the time in one direction and part of the-time in the-opposite direction, the journal members 53 and 54 will move upwardly to the top or upper end of two of the grooves 50 and will then pass downwardly along the re- 5 maining two grooves. The first part of the downward v movement will cause a reverse movement of the piston 45 and, consequently, the jaws will be opened instead of closed. By continuing the rotary movement in the same direction the next 7" upward movement of the rotary piston ll will cause the jaws to grip and pull the lead I! back into theferrule. It will therefore be seen that the lead may be propelled or retracted as desired.

I claim:

l. A mechanical lead pencil comprising a hollow barrel adaptedto receive a plurality of leads, a hollow ferrule rotatably secured to one end of said barrel, said ferrule having an outlet opening, means-in said barrel for guiding one of said leads at a time into said ferrule, and means including a pairof swinging jaws in the ferrule for intermittentlygrasping and moving the lead therein to and. through said outlet opening, said means being reversible whereby said lead may be withdrawn. j

2. A mechanical lead pencil comprising a hollow barrel formed with a magazine adapted to receive a plurality of leads, a hollow ferrule rotatably'securecl to one end of said barrel, said ferrule having an outlet opening, a lead guiding 2o .tube extending from near said magazine to said outlet opening, means in said barrel for autoniatically moving one lead at a time from the magazine into alignment with said lead guiding tube; s'aidmeansincluding a coiled sheet memher having an arc-shaped center merging into a tubular guide extending to said lead guiding tube,

and means including a pair of swingingjaws in the ferrule for intermittently gripping and moving the lead therein toward and through said out go let opening, said means being reversible to retract said lead to provide a desired protuberance of lead from said ferrule.

3. A mechanical lead pencil comprising a hollow barrel formed with a magazine adapted to receive a plurality of leads, a hollow ferrule rotatably secured -to one end of said barrel, said ferrule having an outlet opening, a lead guiding tube extending from near said magazine to said outlet opening; means in said barrel for moving 0 one of said leads at a time from the magazine into alignment with said lead guiding tube, said means including an apertured disk rigidly secured to said barrel and acurved member acting as a scoop for directing lead in the barrel one at a a time into said lead-guiding tube, and a pair of swinging gripping jaws in the ferrule for intermittently gripping and feeding the lead in said lead guiding tube toward and through said outlet opening. m

4. A mechanical'lead pencil comprising a hollow barrel adapted to receive a plurality of leads,

a hollow ferrule rotatably secured to one end of said barrel, said ferrule having an outlet opening, means in said barrel for guiding one of said leads 5 at a time into said ferrule, and means in the ferrule for intermittently gripping and moving the lead therein toward said outlet opening, said means including a pair of swinging gripping arms,

a member longitudinally reciprocable in respect to said barrel and rotatable in respect to said ferrule; for swinging said arms into and out of functioning position and also for moving said arms longitudinally of the ferrule while in either a functioning or non-functioning position and a cam actuated by sad barrel for causing said reciprocable and rotatable member to function.

5. A mechanical lead pencil comprising a barrel, a hollow substantially cone-shaped ferrule having one end formed with a leadoutlet and the other end rotatably secured to the barrel, means for guiding a lead from the barrel into the ferrule, a lead tube in the ferrule for preventing accidental movement of a lead through said outlet, a pair of swinging grippers positioned to grip a lead and then move the same toward and through .said outlet, said gripper comprising a pair of ievers'pivoted at one end and formed with gripping Jaws at the other end, and means for actuating said grippers as said barrel revolves and said ferrule is held stationary, said means including a hollow piston longitudinally reciprocable in respect to said barrel and rotatable in respect to said ierruiefor swinging said Jaws into and out of functioning position and after each swinging movement moving the Jaws longitudinally of theierrule, and cam means carried and held so as to act as if integral with the barrel for actuating said hollow piston.

6. A mechanical lead pencil comprising a barrel, a hollow ferrule rotatably secured to said the casing in respect to the tube, an anchor secured to said ferrule and extending through said casing for preventing independent rotation of said casing, a pipe extending from said barrel for guiding a lead from said barrel into said leadguiding tube, a piston reciprocable in respect to said barrel and rotatable in respect to said ferrule, said piston being formed with abutments and with a plurality of pairs of circumferentially extending openings larger at one mid than at the other, said grippers being swingably mounted on said casing and each gripper being provided with a projection extending through an opening in said piston, there being one projection for each opening in said piston whereby when said ferrule rotates a short distance in one direction said grippers will swing in one direction for gripping a lead in said lead-gudng tube and when rotated a short distance in the opposite direction said grippers will be swung in the opposite direction to a non-functioning position, and cam means secured to said barrel for rotating said piston and moving the same longitudinally of the ferrule on each rotary movement.

FRANK P. COOPER. 

